The aroma of cooking filled the house: I sent my eldest brother to become the Grand Secretary.

In Xin'an County, there lived a prominent local gentry family surnamed Zhou.

The origins of the Zhou family are said to date back to the harrowing escape that took place more than a decade ago.

At that time, the head of the Zhou family was an official appointed by the imperial court.

After overcoming numerous hardships, this gentleman finally passed the imperial examination with flying colors and was filled with joy, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to display his talents and ambitions to bring benefits to the country and its people.

However, there are unexpected events in the sky, and misfortunes and blessings for people.

A sudden natural disaster struck, followed by endless man-made calamities.

In an instant, the entire Great Xia Kingdom was plunged into a state of utter misery, akin to a living hell.

Even the emperor, who was high above all others, had to abandon the capital and flee for his life.

Faced with such a chaotic situation, what could a lowly ninth-rank official like him do?

Even protecting himself was incredibly difficult, let alone protecting others. In this desperate situation, he had no choice but to lead his entire family on a journey to the southwest.

They endured hardships and dangers along the way, but they never gave up hope of survival, only to find a place to settle down and make a living.

When he finally escaped to Xin'an County after going through countless hardships, the situation in the entire Great Xia Kingdom had gradually stabilized.

Seeing this situation, he thought that rather than continuing to wander, it would be better to settle down here for the time being.

So he resolutely decided to stay in Xin'an County and start a completely new life.

This incident also completely changed the mind of his mother, Madam Zhou.

She had always hoped that her son would embark on a career in government and bring honor to the family. However, after experiencing the tragedy of national collapse and family ruin, she witnessed firsthand the helplessness and despair of officials in chaotic times.

At that moment, she realized how fragile and vulnerable power and status are in turbulent times. In contrast, having enough food and money in hand provides a greater sense of security.

Therefore, once the situation had stabilized somewhat, Madam Zhou did not hesitate to have her son resign from his official post and return to his hometown of Xin'an County.

At that time, land prices were not expensive, and the Zhou family took the opportunity to invest most of their money in purchasing land and houses.

After careful planning, the Zhou family successfully bought a large amount of land around Xin'an County, becoming a veritable major landowner in the area.

It must be admitted that Mrs. Zhou is indeed a person with exceptional insight!

Back then, when war raged and famine was rampant, the entire country was plunged into chaos and desolation.

However, after the war subsided and the famine ended, the imperial court unexpectedly discovered the unique geographical advantages hidden in Xin'an County.

Therefore, they made up their minds to vigorously develop the water transport industry in this area.

It is said that the imperial court requisitioned a considerable amount of land from the Zhou family to build the wharf in Xin'an County!

However, for the Zhou family, this could also be a blessing in disguise.

From then on, the Zhou family, with the generous compensation and the business opportunities brought about by the construction of the dock, successfully accumulated a fortune that was the envy of many.

Although the head of the Zhou family was not suited for officialdom or politics, he was exceptionally gifted in business.

Through years of painstaking management and careful operation, he not only expanded and strengthened his family business, but also gradually accumulated enormous wealth. Over time, the Zhou family became renowned in the area, becoming a well-known and highly respected local gentry and landlord.

Whether on the streets or in the fields, people would give a thumbs up and praise the Zhou family when they mentioned them. The Zhou family mansion grew larger and larger, displaying its extraordinary grandeur and showcasing the wealth and prosperity of its owners.

Speaking of this old lady Zhou, she is truly a kind-hearted and compassionate person!

She was always known in the village for her generosity. Back when there was a famine, people were suffering terribly, and most of the people in Xin'an County faced the threat of hunger and death.

However, at this difficult moment, Grandma Zhou stepped forward and showed extraordinary kindness.

The Zhou family's porridge stalls sprang up like mushrooms after rain throughout Xin'an County. Regardless of age or gender, anyone who was hungry could get a bowl of hot, life-saving porridge here.

It was precisely because of this that people gradually learned that the Zhou family had been running a business since their ancestors' time, and that they were already well-known in the prosperous Jiangnan region, truly a wealthy family.

Looking back, the world was in turmoil and war.

To escape the brutal enemy and to prevent their property from falling into enemy hands and being plundered, the Zhou family resolutely embarked on a journey away from their homeland at a young age.

Despite the trials and tribulations that have taken place over the years, Mrs. Zhou's good deeds have never ceased.

On the first and fifteenth of each month, her family would set up a soup kitchen to distribute rice porridge to the public.

Moreover, whenever Old Mrs. Zhou went out and happened to encounter beggars or poor people in distress on the street, she would always give them some money without hesitation to help them get through their difficulties.

What's even more remarkable is that the old lady Zhou's maidservant always carried several bulging money pouches with her whenever she went out with her mistress.

In this way, if they encounter poor people in need of help along the way, they can immediately lend a helping hand and relieve their urgent needs.

Because of her lifelong good deeds and helping those in need, Old Mrs. Zhou earned great prestige throughout Xin'an County and became a highly respected philanthropist.

Shen Cao was a little puzzled. Since the Zhou family was now also in business, why did Old Madam Zhou hate people in business the most?

Seemingly noticing Shen Cao's confusion, Wei Siyu explained, "This all started a few years ago."

"I heard that back then, a member of a collateral branch of the Zhou family, who is now Mr. Zhou's cousin, came to our door."

"Upon meeting him, he immediately began to express his longing for them to his aunt, Old Mrs. Zhou."

"Then he started talking about how difficult it had been for him all these years, how his family survived the war and famine by relying on the money they received from their relatives."

"He used the remaining money to start a business. Over the years, it has been a mediocre business, barely making a living."

“A while ago, his friend asked him to do business, saying that he could make a lot of money, so he went with his friend. Who knew that he didn’t have enough money, his goods were pawned, and he couldn’t come up with the money.”

"His entire fortune was tied up in those goods, which is why he had no choice but to beg Old Madam Zhou for help."

Upon hearing this, Shen Cao already had a general idea in mind. She narrowed her eyes slightly and said softly, "In the end, his relative must have deceived them, right?"

Hearing this, Wei Siyu nodded with a wry smile on her face, and then said, "It's more than just deception! His relative didn't just owe a mere two thousand taels of silver, but actually a whopping two hundred thousand taels!"

Shen Cao gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief, and asked, "Two hundred thousand taels of silver? That's a huge debt! Doesn't that mean the Zhou family is..."

Wei Siyu sighed helplessly and continued to explain, "Yes, this has almost emptied half of the Zhou family's hard-earned assets."

You see, businessmen don't usually have that much readily available cash. The Zhou family had to sell off their assets to barely scrape together this money, and at a ridiculously low price.

At this point, Wei Siyu paused, then added, "Oh, right, I misspoke earlier. Actually, Grandma Zhou doesn't simply dislike businessmen; it's because of something that happened before that she particularly abhors acting as a guarantor for businessmen."

After all, given the previous painful lessons, who would dare to take that risk again?

Shen Cao nodded in sudden realization, indicating her understanding.

However, to their utter surprise, just when they had completely given up on finding Old Mrs. Zhou to act as guarantor, a dramatic scene unfolded—the Zhou family actually came to them for help!